8: Chapter 8: Isn't that possession?

Because Xiao Ran was accepted as a Disciple by the Third Supreme Elder, the entire ceremony continued for another full hour.

After it ended, Sect Master Li Jiuyou departed, and the guests from various factions began to mingle freely.

Many representatives from other Sects of the Demonic Path took the initiative to step forward and congratulate Xiao Ran.

Regardless of what they truly thought, they had to maintain appearances at this moment.

Otherwise, wouldn't they be failing to give Face to the Grand Elder?

Xiao Ran handled each encounter with poise, neither humble nor arrogant.

While hosting the guests, he also noticed eight people sitting on the viewing platform at the edge of the square.

They were the other eight Demon Sons.

They watched from a distance, their expressions calm, revealing no hint of joy or anger.

But Xiao Ran could feel it—it was a condescending scrutiny, like a dragon looking down at a fledgling that had just learned to fly.

"The gap is still too large."

"There is still a whole major Realm between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, not to mention the weakest among them is at the Golden Core Middle Stage..."

Xiao Ran thought to himself.

"Junior Brother Xiao."

A voice suddenly rang out.

Xiao Ran turned his head and saw the Third Demon Son, White Bone Scholar, appearing beside him at some unknown point, looking at him with a beaming smile.

"Third Senior Brother."

Xiao Ran performed a salute.

"You're too polite."

"Since Junior Brother Xiao has been accepted as a Disciple by the Grand Elder, I cannot possibly accept such a formal salute!"

White Bone Scholar fanned himself with his Bone Fan and laughingly stepped aside.

"Third Senior Brother, no matter where I go, I will always be your Junior Brother."

Xiao Ran spoke with complete naturalness.

In his previous life, he had spent enough time around leaders to know exactly what to say to whom; he could handle a small scene like this with ease.

As expected, White Bone Scholar smiled upon hearing this, clearly in high spirits.

"Ninth Junior Brother is too kind. Today is a day of double celebration for you. As your Senior Brother, I don't have much to give, so I'll just give you a piece of advice."

Xiao Ran was stunned. Is this guy really this stingy?

What's the deal with just giving me a sentence?

He complained wildly in his heart, but on the surface, he still responded with a smile.

"Please speak, Senior Brother."

"The position of Demon Son is not the end, but the starting point."

White Bone Scholar looked at Xiao Ran, his gaze deep.

"The nine Demon Sons of the Eternal Night Demon Sect have a Ranking Battle every year. Those ranked lower can challenge those ranked higher."

"The winner takes the position, and the loser... at best is heavily injured, and at worst loses their life."

He paused for a moment and smiled slightly: "Ninth Junior Brother, your current rank is ninth. According to the rules, you can challenge the Eighth Demon Son next year."

"Of course, you can also choose not to challenge and continue being the Ninth Demon Son, but in that case... your share of resources will be much smaller."

Xiao Ran remained silent for a moment before asking, "Who is the Eighth Demon Son currently?"

"Blood Child."

As White Bone Scholar spoke, he pointed with his folding fan toward a fellow in the distance who clearly looked like a child.

"Golden Core Middle Stage... that guy also possesses an Ancient Holy Body, specifically the Bloodthirsty Demonic Body, ranked 82nd."

"Unfortunately, he is bloodthirsty by nature and greedy for success. A while ago, he suffered a backlash from his Demonic Technique, and his cultivation dropped a bit."

"Ninth Junior Brother, with your talent, you might just be able to replace him."

White Bone Scholar fanned himself and laughed.

Xiao Ran understood.

This little prick was trying to provoke his competitive spirit so he would challenge Blood Child, allowing the scholar to sit back and watch the fight!

He wondered what the motive was.

"Thank you for the reminder, Third Senior Brother."

Xiao Ran calmly cupped his hands.

"You're welcome."

White Bone Scholar closed his Bone Fan and patted Xiao Ran's shoulder. "The path of the Demon Sect is not easy to walk. Cultivate well. I... am looking forward to your performance."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Xiao Ran stood in place, watching his retreating back as his gaze gradually darkened.

There isn't a single good person in this shitty place!

...

Late at night, Eternal Night Palace.

Xiao Ran sat cross-legged in the cultivation room, with this month's newly collected resources laid out before him.

In addition to the standard hundred Demon Crystals and Medicinal Pills, there was also a Grade 4 Bone-Eroding Demonic Flower.

This was an extra benefit of being the Grand Elder's True Disciple.

According to the records in the Jade Slip, the Devilish Qi contained in this flower was enough to allow a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to break through directly to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but one had to be extremely careful when consuming it, as the slightest mistake could shatter their Meridians.

Of course, that was for others; for Xiao Ran, this was top-tier Spirit Medicine!

"Xiao Ran, how are things on your end?"

Just then, Li Changsheng's voice came through the Soul link.

"I've just finished the Investiture Ceremony. My status as the Ninth Demon Son is secure, and I've even been taken as a Disciple by the Grand Elder of the Demon Sect."

"What about you?"

Xiao Ran responded.

"About the same. The Palace Master held a Saint Ceremony for me."

"And likewise, an old man specifically came out of seclusion wanting to take me as his Disciple."

"That old man looks kind and benevolent... but I always feel like the way he looks at me is off."

Li Changsheng paused and gave a vivid account of his experience.

Xiao Ran was taken aback. "This old man isn't planning to instill his lifetime of power into you, with the only drawback being the loss of a few 'insignificant' memories, is he?"

"Xiao Ran, don't scare me! Isn't that f*cking Possession?"

Li Changsheng's voice carried a hint of panic upon hearing this.

He had only just transmigrated; he didn't want to die so soon!

Xiao Ran didn't say anything.

He looked at the sky of the Eternal Night Demon Sect outside the window, where that blood moon hung eternally in the firmament, crimson as blood.

His own situation wasn't much better.

The Demon Son Ranking Battles, the Grand Elder taking him as a Disciple... none of it felt like a good thing.

"Changsheng."

"Yeah?"

"Strength is the only thing that matters!"

"Just focus on cultivating with all your might. As long as we are strong enough, you'll be the number one of the Righteous Path, and I'll be the top dog of the Demonic Path."

"Won't the entire cultivation world be ours to command?"

Xiao Ran spoke with impassioned fervor, and Li Changsheng nodded heavily.

The Soul link disconnected once more.

Xiao Ran stood up and walked to the window of the Eternal Night Palace, looking at the looming halls of the Demon Sect nestled among the distant mountains.

Time was tight, and the task was heavy.

He had to work overtime to increase his strength.

"Let's do this."

Xiao Ran turned and sat back down in the center of the Demon Gathering Array.

With a flip of his palm, the Bone-Eroding Demonic Flower floated in his hand.

He plucked the petals and stuffed them into his mouth.

The next second, violent Devilish Qi exploded within his body.

It was ten times denser than Demon Crystals and a hundred times more violent than the essence blood of a Demonic Beast.

Xiao Ran felt as if his Meridians were being pierced by countless red-hot iron rods; the pain was so intense he nearly fainted.

The Guixu Body operated frantically, swallowing and refining the energy.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

The Devilish Qi crashed wildly through his Meridians before being forcibly compressed and purified.

Sweat soaked his robes, and his teeth ground together audibly.

But Xiao Ran did not stop.

He knew this was a pain he had to endure.

To survive in this dog-eat-dog world, and to stand at a high enough peak alongside Changsheng,

He had to become stronger.

Stronger, at any cost.

Outside the window, the blood moon hung in the sky.

Inside the Eternal Night Palace, Devilish Qi surged like a tide.